The Internet age has made genealogy research much easier than it was years ago. In those days, researchers were forced to visit university libraries or other record depositories and search through microfilm rolls, frame by frame, looking for useful information. The Internet and the LDS Church (the Mormons) have digitized millions of records and one can easily sit at their computer virtually anywhere and search through foreign and domestic records, both common and obscure.
The ease of research and the success of such shows as "Finding Your Roots" has caused many people to take up genealogy who never had before. The secret hope of many of these "new" researchers is that they will find someone famous or infamous in their family tree, giving them bragging rights at the next cocktail party. One of my friends admitted that she took up genealogy hoping to be able to join the Daughters of the American Revolution to no avail. She found enough ancestors to join the Mayflower Descendants, the Daughters of the Confederacy, even the Huguenot Society - everything but the DAR. Interestingly I found that I was eligible to join the Sons of the American Revolution through my ancestor Francis Malone.
The fact is, and I have certainly found it in my own family research, most of our ancestors were just regular people - neither famous nor infamous. They were born, they lived and they died, all while going about their business. It used to be said in the old days that a "lady" only had her name in the newspaper three times - when she was born, when she married, and when she died. Many of our ancestors never had their names in the newspapers at all.
In the twelve years I have been writing for this blog, I have been able to "dig up" stories on some very interesting people. This month I am writing my 300th article for this blog. I hope you enjoy it.
In the old days there used to be a radio program called "Just Plain Bill." It was "a story of people just like people we all know." So this month I am going to tell the story of Evanstonian Philbert Milton Russell (1881-1967), a man noteworthy by not being noteworthy. In fact, I can even call him "Just Plain Phil."
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| Philbert Milton Russell |
I have mentioned in the past that I search ebay on a regular basis for items of interest from my birthplace, Evanston, Illinois. Recently I ran across this photo:
It was taken at the 40th Anniversary Dinner for Philbert M. Russell, on November 29, 1941 at the Georgian Hotel in Evanston. I did a little digging and found that Philbert Russell had been an employee of the Prudential Insurance Company. This banquet must have been to celebrate his 40th anniversary with the Prudential.
You can see one of the men in the foreground of the photo seems to be sitting so as to be raised above the people sitting around him.
I assumed that this was Philbert Russell. But that could not be - there is no way that this man is old enough to have worked anywhere for forty years. But why is he raised above the other people at his table, and where is Philbert Russell?
I found a family tree on ancestry.com that featured a photo of Philbert Russell sitting at his desk in his office for the Prudential. Here it is:
There is no way that this man: 
is this man:
Let's put the matter of the photo aside for a moment and see what we can dig up about Philbert Russell:
Philbert Milton Russell (some sources say his middle name was "Monroe," some say "Melton") was born January 2, 1881 in Owen County, Indiana to Francis Marion "Frank" Russell (1850-1923) and Agnes Shepper (1854-1936). Francis and Agnes had twelve children, eight of whom lived to adulthood. The are: Oren L. (1876-1969), William F. (1878-1964), Philbert M. (1881-1967), Emery (1882-1966), Otis (1885-1958), Bertha Gertrude (1888-1942), Verna/Mrs. Phillip Frew (1890-1978), and Clara E./Mrs. Fred Graham (1892-1991). Frank Russell was a coal miner by trade.
Philbert makes his first "official" appearance in the 1900 US Census. He was living with his parents in Marion Township, Owen County, Indiana. The family consisted of: Frank Russell (49 years old), Agnes (46), "Filbert" (20), Emery (18), Otis (14), Bertha (12), Verna (10), and Clara (7). Frank and Agnes said they had been married for 26 years, and Agnes said she had given birth to twelve children, eight of whom were still alive in 1900. Frank was not employed in 1900. I don't know if he was laid off or ill. He ultimately died of pulmonary tuberculosis, so it could have been either. Filbert was a "Clerk in a Dry Goods Store," Emery was a "Farm Laborer," and the rest of the children were in school. Everyone in the family except Clara the youngest, could read and write, and everyone in the family could speak English. They told the census taker that they lived on a farm, and that the farm was rented.
Since the photo of the banquet that took place November 29, 1941 honored Phil Russell's 40th anniversary with The Prudential, we can assume he started his employment with them late in 1901 when he was twenty years old. Here is a photo of Russell from about that time:
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| Philbert Russell |
By the 1910 US Census, Philbert Russell was living in St. Louis, Missouri. He was living at the Benton Hotel, at 819 Pine. He said he was twenty-nine years old and that he was an "Inspector" for an "Insurance Company." The Prudential Insurance Company's office in St. Louis in those days was in the Chemical Building, at 8th and Olive in St. Louis:
A happy event took place for Phil Russell on November 1, 1911 when he married Claire Mae Huston in Evansville, Indiana. Here is the entry from the Wesley United Methodist Church Records:
I was not able to determine if Rev. William T. Russell was related to the groom, Philbert Russell.
Claire May Huston (1885-1963) was born May 2, 1885 in Atkinson, Nebraska to James Melville Huston (1849-1920) and Mary Ann Handy (1850-1925). James and Mary Ann had six children: Nellie K./Mrs. Frank Follett (1872-1930), Emma Loretta/Mr. Harry Wakeland (1874-1958), Jennie/Mrs. Charles W. Smith (1878-1954), James Winfred (1882-1931), Claire Mae/Mrs. Philbert Russell (1885-1963), and Charles A. (1889-1931). James Huston worked for an Express Delivery Service. During the course of his life he was also a Day Laborer, and a Constable.
Speaking of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Claire Huston Russell was a member, as a direct descendent of Patriot Sgt. William Thompson Murdock.
We can see from this article about the wedding that Phil Russell is proceeding to rise through the ranks of the Prudential Insurance Company, now as Home Inspector.
On August 3, 1917 Phil and Claire Russell became the proud parents of Shirley-Nelle Russell (1917-2008) who was born in Chicago. She was to be their only child. She, too would qualify for the DAR through her mother.
Phil Russell registered for the Draft on September 12, 1918 when he was thirty-seven years old. He was living at 945 W. Wilson in Chicago. A mid-rise building is currently being constructed on that site. He listed his Occupation as Inspector for The Prudential Insurance Company. He was listed as being "Tall," with a "Medium" build, "Blue" Eyes and "Light Brown" Hair. He had no physical disabilities that would have prevented him from serving in the military.
The 1920 US Census shows the Russell family still living at 945 W. Wilson in Chicago. The family consisted of Philbert (38 years old), Clara (34) and Shirley (25/12 months old). Phil said he was an "Inspector" for an "Insurance Company."
Philbert Russell's name did not appear in any newspapers during the period 1920-1930 except perhaps in connection with the death of his father. Francis Marion Russell died December 8, 1923 in Terre Haute, Indiana from "Pulmonary Tuberculosis." He was seventy-three years old. He is buried in the Highland Lawn Cemetery in Terre Haute:
The 1930 US Census shows the Philbert Russell family now living at 4428 N. Malden Street in Chicago:
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| 4428 N. Malden Street, Chicago, Illinois |
When I first searched for the 1930 Census Record I could not find it because the census taker had incorrectly labelled the family. Phil was listed as "Philbert, M. Russell," when he should have been listed as "Russell, Philbert M." Claire is listed as "Claire Philbert" and their daughter as "Shirley-Nelle Philbert." Luckily I was able to dig deeper and find them. The family consisted of Philbert M. Russell (47 years old), Claire M. (43), and Shirley-Nelle (12). They indicated they rented their apartment for $100.00 per month, they did own a radio, that Shirley-Nelle was in school, and that they could all read and write. Phil told the census taker that he was "Superintendent" for an "Insurance" company, and that he was not a Veteran.
Philbert Russell's name did not appear in the newspapers during the 1930s, except when his mother Agnes Shepper Russell died on September 7, 1936 from "Chronic Myocarditis." She was eighty-two years old.
She was buried next to her husband in the Highland Lawn Cemetery in Terre Haute:
Phil and Claire's daughter Shirley-Nelle Russell attended Northwestern University. She graduated in 1939 with a degree in Language Arts. Here is a photo of her when she was a Junior at NU in 1938:
Shirley-Nelle was elected president of her sorority, Chi Omega in 1939.
After graduation with war imminent, Shirley-Nelle started driving for the Red Cross Motor Corps to "do her part."
The Russell family moved out of Chicago into beautiful Evanston, Illinois in 1939.
As reported in the 1940 US Census, the Philbert Russell Family was living at 1423 Judson in Evanston:
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| 1423 Judson, Evanston, Illinois |
The family consisted of: Philbert (59 years old), Claire (54), Shirley-Nelle (22) and a "Friend" Eva Ray (56). They rented the house for $100.00 per month. The 1940 US Census had a question about the "Highest Grade of School Completed." Phil said he had gone as far as the second year of high school, Claire had two years of college, and Shirley-Nelle had four years of college. Friend Eva had four years of high school. Phil listed his occupation as "Superintendent of Sales" for a "Life Insurance Company." He said he had earned $5,000+ in the previous twelve months ($108,000 in today's funds). Friend Eva was a "Private Duty Nurse" who reported an income of $140.00 in 1939. The 1940 Census also asked where you were living on April 1, 1935. If you were living at the same place you currently lived, you told the Census Taker "Same Place." Phil and his family, plus friend Eva, all said they were living in Chicago in 1935, not Evanston where they were currently living.
This brings us to the 40th Anniversary Dinner which took place on Saturday, November 29, 1941 at the Georgian Hotel in Evanston. Here is the photo again that was taken that night:
We have determined that as of the date of this photo, November 29, 1941 Phil Russell was sixty years old. We have also determined that the man seated raised above the other guests in the foreground cannot possibly be Phil Russell. Where, then is Phil Russell? There is a head table along with other tables in front. At banquets where there is a head table, the guest of honor is usually seated at the head table. In the middle of the head table there is a flower arrangement - again probably to draw attention to the guest of honor. It's just a guess, because I never met Phil Russell nor was I alive in 1941, that the man under the arrows is Phil Russell:
and I would guess that the woman wearing a corsage two seats to the right of Phil is his wife Claire.
Even though there was a war on, people still fell in love, although their actually marriage was often postponed. Although Phil Russell was not in the newspaper of his own accord during this period, but his daughter was. In fact, she was mentioned three times in the Chicago Tribune of August 3, 1943. First, an announcement of the engagement of Shirley-Nelle to Mr. John Frederick Huling (1920-1970):
Her second mention:
And lastly:
Several mentions were made of the "Mary Crane Nursery League." in connection with Shirley-Nelle Russell. For those not familiar with the organization, the Mary Crane Center which was founded in 1907 by noted Chicagoan Jane Addams, promotes the comprehensive early development of children through school-readiness programs, personal enrichment activities, and family support services. The Mary Crane Nursery League was founded in 1932 as a not-for-profit membership service organization to financially support the Mary Crane Nursery School. The organization still exists on the west side of Chicago today as the Mary Crane Center in West Garfield Park.
The marriage finally took place on June 2, 1945:
This is a report about the wedding from the Fairhope (AL) Courier from June 7, 1945:
After their marriage, the Hulings lived in Fairhope, Alabama.
Strangely, the 1948 Evanston Directory listed Philbert Russell as the District Manager for the Prudential Insurance Company. Phil was born in 1881, so he turned 65 in 1946. In those days, retirement at the age of 65 was mandatory, especially in large corporations. Why was Phil Russell allowed to continue working after the mandatory retirement age of 65?
The Chicago Tribune had a happy announcement about the Russell-Huling family on September 16, 1948:
Phil Russell and Claire were now the proud grandparents of Claire Lenore, called "Mimi" by the family.
Here is the Huling family's Christmas card probably from Christmas, 1949:
The 1950 US Census raises questions about the Russell Family. The family was now living at 1641 Hinman Avenue in Evanston:
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| 1641 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois |
In addition to Phil and Claire, their daughter, son in law and granddaughter were living with them. But a strange thing happened when the Russells moved into 1641 Hinman - the ages of some of them decreased by fifteen years. The family consisted of Philbert M. (54 years old - he was actually 69!), Claire (51 - she was actually 65!), John F. Huling (29), Shirley (32), and Claire (1). Phil Russell indicated that his occupation is "Manager of an Insurance Company," however the "Number of Hours Worked" field was left blank. Son-in-law John Huling said his occupation was "Purchasing Agent" for a "Manufacturer of Paper Products." Claire, Shirley (she dropped the "Nelle") and Mimi had no other occupations listed.
Philbert Russell retired from the Prudential in 1952 with 51 years of service. He was 71 years old.
As many retirees do, Phil Russell enjoyed his retirement years by travelling. Here is a mention from the Fairhope (AL) Courier) on March 29, 1956:
It appears that on the way back to Evanston from a trip to Florida they decided to stop in to Fairhope and see their son-in-law's parents, the John Hulings.
In addition to travel, Philbert Russell was on the Board of Kendall College, Evanston as well as the Board of the First Methodist Church of Evanston.
Claire Mae Huston Russell died in Evanston, Illinois on August 6, 1963. She was seventy-eight years old. Here is her Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of August 8, 1963:
At the time of Claire's death, the Russells were living at 1616 Judson Avenue in Evanston:
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| 1616 Judson Avenue, Evanston, Illinois |
Phil and Claire Russell's daughter Shirley-Nelle and her husband John Huling and their granddaughter Mimi and her husband Kent Jones were also living with them at the 1616 Judson address.
Philbert Milton Russell died in Evanston on February 24, 1967. To make things just one big circle, at the time of his death he was living in the Georgian Hotel at 422 Davis Street - the site of his 40th Anniversary Dinner in 1941. By this time, the Georgian had been purchased by the Mather Senior Living Communities and was being operated as a retirement home. Here is his Obituary from February 25, 1967, and Death Notice, from February 26, 1967, both from the Chicago Tribune:
He was interred with his wife in the Community Mausoleum at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois:
So that brings us to the end of the story of "Just Plain Phil." A man who was born, lived and then died. He also had a career, and was a husband and father. But like most of us, Phil Russell was neither famous nor infamous. It does seem, though, he had a life well-lived.
May Philbert Milton Russell - "Just Plain Phil" rest in peace.
The rest of the story: John F. Huling died in 1970 at the age of forty-nine. His wife, Shirley-Nelle Russell Huling died in 2008 at the age of ninety. Both are interred in the Community Mausoleum of Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois, not too far from Shirley's parents. Phil and Claire Russell:
Phil and Claire's granddaughter Claire Lenore "Mimi" Huling married Kent R. Jones in 1969, a Mr. Hanson in 1982 and Todd Van Slyke in 2002. She died in Evanston, Illinois in 2002 at the age of fifty-four. I was unable to find any information about where she was interred.
Postscript: As I mentioned above, this is my 300th blog entry since I started this blog on September 20, 2011. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing all the research and writing the stories so these people will not be forgotten. Let's face it, once something is on the Internet, it's out there forever. I am very grateful for all the positive feedback I have received from my readers. I especially like it when I am contacted by the families of people I have written about. They have been most kind in their praise, and I appreciate any corrections they point out or their willingness to share family photos, clippings, etc.
This blog would not have been successful without the assistance of the world's #1 researcher, Mike Kelly. He has an amazing talent to be able to uncover even the most obscure facts for me when I need them. His abilities are almost miraculous - and greatly appreciated.
One thing I have learned since beginning this blog is that I will never run out of people to write about. Any cemetery has literally thousands of stories just waiting to be "dug-up." It has been suggested that I start charging a membership fee to access my blog, or at least allowing advertisements so I could make a little money off this work. My answer to both is "No." This is a fun pursuit, and one I look forward to every day. If there were financial considerations involved that would take the fun out of it. And ads? Nobody likes those and I don't want my readers to have to slog through ads to get to the stories I have written.
And to the person who continually steals my research and presents it as his own on his website, I guess I should be flattered.
Thanks most of all to my readers. I have met some of you, and even found I was related to some of you. Thank you for your loyalty. As long as I am able I will continue to try to dig up the stories that are "Under Every Tombstone."
As one of your longtime readers, I wish you congratulations on 300 posts (and that you continue to post).
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